Strollerderby

And Now - The Gay Brain

Posted by Brett Singer

The Gay BrainFirst it was the gay gene (and it wasn't Bugle Boy! Apologies to Bill Maher whom I stole that joke from.) Now the powers that be have decided that there is a gay brain. Scientists studied the sizes of the left and right brains of 90 people, and found that, "Gay men and heterosexual women had halves of a similar size, while the right side was bigger in lesbian women and heterosexual men." So gay men have brain halves like straight women, and gay women have brain halves like straight men. Got that? This will be on the test.

This isn't the first attempt to "prove" that gayness is born, not made. There was the gay gene (see above), and then the theory that what happens in the womb could affect male sexuality. According to the BBC, "this is the first time…that scientists have used brain scanners" to attempt to determine the cognitive differences between gay people and us breeders.

In theory, this is a good discovery, since it helps put to rest the idea espoused by certain lunatics that homosexuality can be "cured." But it could help the loonies' cause too, couldn't it? Imagine if someone proposes a test be given to children at birth, or in utero. Then what? I know that sounds extreme but some people are, well, extreme (like this lady – don't click this link unless you want to get angry.) There's a part of me that wonders if sexual orientation is something we need to find a reason for.

image: The Situationist, and then messed with by me. * = Homosexualis Gaygaygayus is a term I just made up, obviously.

Related posts:

New York Governor's Decision to Recognize Gay Marriages Brings Unexpected Praise (and Hugs)

Rich guy pretends to be gynecologist to see women naked (he ain't no fruit!)

Political Nanny: Women, Dear Sweet *Angry* Women!

Clay Aiken ain't no fruit

Best of FameCrawler: Week of May 30th


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Comments

 

Yvie said:

Thanks for providing this informative article. I've also come across a related article before in Time Magazine.

I don't find anything wrong with gayness. If you are born that way then so be it. It's a good thing that scientists has now proven that it all starts in the womb and it is in the genes.

Now, am I going to click that link or not? Hmmmm....let's find out. I don't think I won't be that angry right?

June 17, 2008 4:00 PM
 

SussLW said:

Can't say you didn't warn me. I clicked the link and I got angry. Increased heart rate & blood pressure angry.

June 17, 2008 4:02 PM
 

diera said:

I think from the point of view of science it's interesting - but from the point of view of public policy it shouldn't matter whether there's an identifiable brain difference.  As far as I'm concerned, the point is that who we love and who we marry should be up to everyone to choose, and it just doesn't matter why some people choose same-sex partners.  It should be their right to do so.

June 17, 2008 6:51 PM
 

Brett Singer said:

@SussLW: yeah, sorry about that. I wasn't going to include it but I decided to keep it in with the disclaimer. It isn't "not safe for work", it's just the web site of a reallllly sick person.

June 17, 2008 11:08 PM

About Brett Singer

Brett Singer is a writer and father living in Manhattan with his wonderful wife and two terrific sons (referred to here as Thing 1 and Thing 2). He writes about music for the Boston Phoenix, parenting for Babble and daddytips.com, and other topics for anyone else who will have him.

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